technologies, rigorous practices help ensure our operations are safe and clean for our communities and the environment. we're america's natural gas. >>> our second story outfront, 50 days until we fall off the fiscal cliff, unless washington acts. both parties claim to be optimistic about a deal to avert the end of the year combination of an end of the year increase in tax rates and slash in spending. how exactly, now, we know there are a lot of meetings scheduled. tomorrow, with the labor community. wednesday, the business community and friday, there's a meeting with harry reid, mitch mcconnell, house speaker john boehner and minority leader nancy pelosi. so, will we get a deal? one man getting a lot of attention is erskine bowles. who along with alan simpson created the simpson-bowles plan on deficit reduction. i have to start by asking you, did you ever think your name would be part of pop culture? you are the bowles in simpson bowles. >> better be simpson bowles than bowles simpson since everybody knows him by his initials here in washington. >> so, when you talk about things, sacred cows, untouch